The history of rap music is rooted in struggle to overcome adversity, usually based in race. And while that struggle is still completely relevant, the genre has typically had a problem with homogeny in songwriters and artists.
Rap is dominated by straight men: Kanye West, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, the list goes on and on. This consistency can lead to a stagnation of ideas, since similar subjects are being touched on by all major artists. Angel Haze represents a change to the homogenous group of artists, bringing with them musical innovation and challenging other artists to up their games.
Angel Haze is a pansexual, agender person who goes by "they/them" pronouns. Their orientation is something unique in the rap world, which means that the experiences they draw on for their lyrics are not experiences that are typically found in the genre. Their lyrics offer a different perspective than the usual hip-hop narrative offers, which challenges other artists and offers the genre the chance to grow.
Angel Haze talks about many topics that music tends to avoid for fear of controversy. For example, they discuss their sexual assault over the beat from Eminem’s 2002 track “Cleanin’ Out My Closet." They also talk about their mixed African American and Native American ethnicity and their religious beliefs. Angel Haze was brought up strictly Pentecostal but later rejected their religion.
They even rap about sexuality over Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ "Same Love," which takes on new meaning from the perspective of an individual who identifies as part of the LGBTQ community. By discussing mainstream topics with their own twist, Angel Haze brings diversity to rap that has been sorely lacking.
Angel Haze is one of the smartest rappers in the business, as demonstrated by their critical acclaim, but to this point in their career, their music has achieved weak sales. Part of this can be attributed to their decision to leak their previous album, "Dirty Gold," after they grew frustrated with their label’s unwillingness to release it before the end of the year in 2013.
However, they have moved past their issues with their label. Angel Haze has also publicly fought with several other artists, most notably with female rapper Azealia Banks. They have several public perception problems to overcome, but their music speaks for itself.
Their upcoming mixtape, “Back to The Woods,” introduces Angel Haze’s new take on how their experience relates to the greater population. The songs that have so far been released from “Back to The Woods” achieve this goal, showcasing their lyrical ability. “Babe Ruthless” is an aggressive attack that claims that they are “all of your favorite rappers' mortician.” The beat is driving, perfect for the boastful lyrics.
On the other hand, “Moonrise Kingdom,” features softer lyrics and an energetic beat. The track features them singing, showing how diverse of an artist they are. A third track, “Impossible,” showcases a static beat with their signature lyrical intensity.
"Dirty Gold," their previous album, was released in 2013. Before it, they released one EP, four mixtapes and have been featured on many other songs. “Back to The Woods” comes out Sept. 18.
